The Fromm Lab
@frommlab.bsky.social
lab at @UiTNorgesarktis studying microRNAs, paleotranscriptomics, biosystematics with a fable for flatworms.
team: Vanessa, Anju, Yrin & Bastian
MirGeneDB, MirMachine, MirMiner (soon!)
team: Vanessa, Anju, Yrin & Bastian
MirGeneDB, MirMachine, MirMiner (soon!)
Earlier papers:
MBE (2013): lnkd.in/dhQr_Kni
GBE (2025): lnkd.in/dPVryV9z
American Naturalist (2026): lnkd.in/dkhdnHn2
MBE (2013): lnkd.in/dhQr_Kni
GBE (2025): lnkd.in/dPVryV9z
American Naturalist (2026): lnkd.in/dkhdnHn2
July 17, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Earlier papers:
MBE (2013): lnkd.in/dhQr_Kni
GBE (2025): lnkd.in/dPVryV9z
American Naturalist (2026): lnkd.in/dkhdnHn2
MBE (2013): lnkd.in/dhQr_Kni
GBE (2025): lnkd.in/dPVryV9z
American Naturalist (2026): lnkd.in/dkhdnHn2
**7/7**
Many thanks to co-corresponding author Alexander Clarke and our fantastic international team (including @pedromartinezserra.bsky.social and to the Trond Mohn Research Foundation for supporting this work.
📄 New paper: lnkd.in/dRnuX-we
#Evolution #Genomics #MicroRNA #Parasitology
Many thanks to co-corresponding author Alexander Clarke and our fantastic international team (including @pedromartinezserra.bsky.social and to the Trond Mohn Research Foundation for supporting this work.
📄 New paper: lnkd.in/dRnuX-we
#Evolution #Genomics #MicroRNA #Parasitology
Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA
lnkd.in
July 17, 2026 at 12:41 PM
**7/7**
Many thanks to co-corresponding author Alexander Clarke and our fantastic international team (including @pedromartinezserra.bsky.social and to the Trond Mohn Research Foundation for supporting this work.
📄 New paper: lnkd.in/dRnuX-we
#Evolution #Genomics #MicroRNA #Parasitology
Many thanks to co-corresponding author Alexander Clarke and our fantastic international team (including @pedromartinezserra.bsky.social and to the Trond Mohn Research Foundation for supporting this work.
📄 New paper: lnkd.in/dRnuX-we
#Evolution #Genomics #MicroRNA #Parasitology
**6/7**
Despite striking ecological convergence, the tempo and mode of gene loss are governed more by evolutionary history than by ecology.
Most lineages with accelerated genome reduction inherited those trajectories long before they became parasitic.
Convergent phenotypes. Contingent genomes.
Despite striking ecological convergence, the tempo and mode of gene loss are governed more by evolutionary history than by ecology.
Most lineages with accelerated genome reduction inherited those trajectories long before they became parasitic.
Convergent phenotypes. Contingent genomes.
Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA
lnkd.in
July 17, 2026 at 12:41 PM
**6/7**
Despite striking ecological convergence, the tempo and mode of gene loss are governed more by evolutionary history than by ecology.
Most lineages with accelerated genome reduction inherited those trajectories long before they became parasitic.
Convergent phenotypes. Contingent genomes.
Despite striking ecological convergence, the tempo and mode of gene loss are governed more by evolutionary history than by ecology.
Most lineages with accelerated genome reduction inherited those trajectories long before they became parasitic.
Convergent phenotypes. Contingent genomes.
**5/7**
Let by Kevin Peterson we annotated and compared 480 transcription factors, 161 RNA-binding proteins, 215 DNA damage response and repair genes, and 921 conserved microRNA families across 48 bilaterian species representing 20 independent origins of parasitism.
Let by Kevin Peterson we annotated and compared 480 transcription factors, 161 RNA-binding proteins, 215 DNA damage response and repair genes, and 921 conserved microRNA families across 48 bilaterian species representing 20 independent origins of parasitism.
Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA
lnkd.in
July 17, 2026 at 12:41 PM
**5/7**
Let by Kevin Peterson we annotated and compared 480 transcription factors, 161 RNA-binding proteins, 215 DNA damage response and repair genes, and 921 conserved microRNA families across 48 bilaterian species representing 20 independent origins of parasitism.
Let by Kevin Peterson we annotated and compared 480 transcription factors, 161 RNA-binding proteins, 215 DNA damage response and repair genes, and 921 conserved microRNA families across 48 bilaterian species representing 20 independent origins of parasitism.
**4/7**
Our new paper asks a simple question:
**If parasites repeatedly evolve similar lifestyles, do they also lose the same genes?**
Surprisingly, the answer is **mostly no**.
Our new paper asks a simple question:
**If parasites repeatedly evolve similar lifestyles, do they also lose the same genes?**
Surprisingly, the answer is **mostly no**.
Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA
lnkd.in
July 17, 2026 at 12:41 PM
**4/7**
Our new paper asks a simple question:
**If parasites repeatedly evolve similar lifestyles, do they also lose the same genes?**
Surprisingly, the answer is **mostly no**.
Our new paper asks a simple question:
**If parasites repeatedly evolve similar lifestyles, do they also lose the same genes?**
Surprisingly, the answer is **mostly no**.
**3/7**
Looking across the animal kingdom revealed the opposite pattern:
The gain of new microRNA families shows the strongest correlation of increasing biological complexity, highlighting the importance of regulatory innovation in the evolution of new cell types and body plans (AmNat 2026).
Looking across the animal kingdom revealed the opposite pattern:
The gain of new microRNA families shows the strongest correlation of increasing biological complexity, highlighting the importance of regulatory innovation in the evolution of new cell types and body plans (AmNat 2026).
July 17, 2026 at 12:41 PM
**3/7**
Looking across the animal kingdom revealed the opposite pattern:
The gain of new microRNA families shows the strongest correlation of increasing biological complexity, highlighting the importance of regulatory innovation in the evolution of new cell types and body plans (AmNat 2026).
Looking across the animal kingdom revealed the opposite pattern:
The gain of new microRNA families shows the strongest correlation of increasing biological complexity, highlighting the importance of regulatory innovation in the evolution of new cell types and body plans (AmNat 2026).
**2/7**
We first showed that parasitic flatworms have lost numerous conserved microRNA families (MBE, 2013).
Later, we found that microRNA loss occurs together with BUSCO gene loss and morphological reduction, revealing a hierarchical process of genome reduction in parasitic rotifers (GBE, 2025).
We first showed that parasitic flatworms have lost numerous conserved microRNA families (MBE, 2013).
Later, we found that microRNA loss occurs together with BUSCO gene loss and morphological reduction, revealing a hierarchical process of genome reduction in parasitic rotifers (GBE, 2025).
July 17, 2026 at 12:41 PM
**2/7**
We first showed that parasitic flatworms have lost numerous conserved microRNA families (MBE, 2013).
Later, we found that microRNA loss occurs together with BUSCO gene loss and morphological reduction, revealing a hierarchical process of genome reduction in parasitic rotifers (GBE, 2025).
We first showed that parasitic flatworms have lost numerous conserved microRNA families (MBE, 2013).
Later, we found that microRNA loss occurs together with BUSCO gene loss and morphological reduction, revealing a hierarchical process of genome reduction in parasitic rotifers (GBE, 2025).
let me know if you are interested in collaborating; we have an overlapping interest:
- www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...
- academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
- www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...
- academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
Substantial Hierarchical Reductions of Genetic and Morphological Traits in the Evolution of Rotiferan Parasites
Abstract. Within the last 800 million years, animals evolved a vast range of diversity of species exhibiting an enormous disparity of forms and lifestyles.
academic.oup.com
July 8, 2026 at 9:46 AM
let me know if you are interested in collaborating; we have an overlapping interest:
- www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...
- academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
- www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...
- academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
Super cool presentation.
July 8, 2026 at 7:58 AM
Super cool presentation.